Seeds for Samaritans – grow something new for a good cause

Just to be straight from the start, this is a charity fundraiser, not a giveaway. And I’ve never done this before, so please bear with – I think I’ve covered everything, but if you spot a howler, please let me know!

I am lucky enough to have an extensive collection of seeds, and (I think) it includes some interesting varieties. I can’t possibly grow them all, and I’d like them to do some good elsewhere.

So I’d like to offer some out, in return for a donation* to Kingston Samaritans made through my JustGiving page (pls click on link). I chose Samaritans because I lost someone I loved very much nearly 20 years ago and I wish she had had more help. Blue Monday seems an apt day to start this too, and it ends on Saturday 4th Feb.

I will cover the costs of 2nd-class postage** so 100% of your donation goes to the Samaritans.

Available varieties are listed below, with the number of seeds per pack and the number of packs available:

Update: this fundraiser ended as of 9pm 26 January. Thanks so much for all your interest and support.

Cherokee Trail of Tears beans – climbing French beans which can be eaten either as green beans or when mature as dried black beans (15 seeds)

Cara la Virgen de la Banera Leon climbing bean – again one of my favourites. Gorgeous round beans with a brown pattern round the hilum. Needs a long season but climbs to 10-12ft and gives you masses of dried beans. Not available in UK (15 beans)

Parsley pea – can’t find these listed in the UK, Parsley peas are grown for their edible tendrils, leaves and flowers. If you leave them they produce sugarsnap peas on 3-4ft high plants. (14 seeds)

What you need to do:

Follow my blog if you aren’t already following, because I need to be able to contact you. If you aren’t there as a follower, I’m sorry, but no seeds.

Choose the seeds you would like from the list above, and add that as a comment below.

There is a maximum limit of 5 packs per person and only one of each variety.

Wait for me to confirm that the seeds you want are available and to ask for your address. (in case this turns out to be hugely popular) Please, don’t stick all your personal information in the comment box, as it will all be edited out.

After getting confirmation, make your donation – and please make it clear who you are. Without psychic powers it’s hard to match an email of mrmousetrouser@anymail.com with Paul Jenkins in Worksop, and if I can’t match you to your seed request you won’t get any seeds. (caveat: I don’t know any Paul Jenkins…) My JustGiving page is here.

Please don’t donate without my confirmation – just in case a variety has run out before I see what you want.

Seeds will go out asap 2nd class after your donation is made and on a first come, first served basis. I’ll cover costs of 2nd-class postage so all your money goes to Samaritans, which is why this is to UK residents only.

Let me know how the seeds do – I really hope you enjoy them.

*All packs of seeds are at a suggested donation of £1.75 each, bar the oca tubers which for which I’d like £4.50 per pack.

Like this:

Hi Beryl. I would be happy to have a go at growing whatever you have left and donate to such a worthwhile fundraising cause. I really don’t mind what or how many. I have had past experiences (family, clients and self) where Samaritans have played a part. Thanks.

Hello again Beryl, I am back due to a misunderstanding on my part. I failed to note that 2 Blush tomato was not part of the SeedCircle16 offer you were making, so can I please pick up one of the remaining packets here. To complete this years haul I would also like 4 Sandpoint tomato and 11 Magnolia Blossom Tendril Pea. Just let me know when to donate to just giving. Best wishes, Paul

Hi Paul, Blush is a fab tomato. and they would have been in the circle but I daftly overfermented the main batch of seeds and didn’t have enough in the end. All the varieties are available and I’ve marked them down for you. Please could you email me your address too? Thanks Beryl

Hi Beryl, Donation made and address via DM on twitter. Looking forward to Blush. Did yours come originally from Baker Creek? Overfermentation has happened to all of us. It’s worrying when you see all those just sprouting seeds, after all the efforts to save and clean them. Still there’s always next year

Hi Paul – thanks!! The seeds came from a 2014 seed circle and I have been growing them for the last 2 seasons. They are such a lovely colour as well as flavour that they are a must-grow each year. I’m going to keep a better eye on the seeds this year – I got a bit distracted!

Thank you Beryl. They sound like a definite experiment for Diss Community Farm, along with Dancing with Smurfs and some others I bought from Baker Creek, inc Berkeley Tie-Dye Green, which you have rated before. Exiting season ahead

Hi, I did respond to your request earlier, I’m sorry the comments thread is a little difficult to navigate when it’s so busy – that’s not something I have control over. Unfortunately there aren’t any packs of oca left. They went relatively quickly. If there is anything else on the available list that you would like, please do let me know. If you are really keen on oca Real Seeds and Thompson and Morgan both sell them. best wishes Beryl

Hello Beryl just letting you know that my seeds have arrived. I’m really looking forward to growing three veggies that I haven’t grown before. Thanks fir organising this and for donating all the income to the Kingston Samaritans. Such a great cause to support. Best wishes, Wendy

Hi Iris, Those five are all fine and have been set aside for you – sorry for the delay in getting back to you, there have been a LOT of requests! Please could you donate via https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/Beryl-Randall and as soon as that’s gone through I will be in touch for an address to send the seeds. Thanks Beryl

Hi Mary, Apologies for the delay in getting back to you – it’s been more popular than I imagined! And yes, both of those are available and set aside for you. Please could you donate via https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/Beryl-Randall and as soon as that’s gone through I will be in touch for an address to send the seeds. Thanks Beryl

Hi Emma,
I’ve run out of Lemon Drop chilli (or misplaced my other packet!) but I can do all the others. Please could you donate via https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/Beryl-Randall and as soon as that’s gone through I will be in touch for an address to send the seeds and tubers to. Thanks Beryl

Hi Beryl, just wondered if I could have some of the Kent blue and magnolia blossom peas and some trail of tears beans please .. I have added my email address and will verify it when I check my emails … I think it is a wonderful thing that you are doing and I will happily donate £10 ..

HI Julia,
Thanks, very kind of you, but I’d raise nowt without people like you. 🙂
All of those are now reserved for you. Please could you donate via https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/Beryl-Randall and once that pops through I’ll email for an address to send them to. Thanks loads, Beryl
PS Loved the extra comments, but I’ve removed them as this comments thread is going bonkers!

Hi Julia,
My emails to you aren’t getting through. If you have a moment, please can you send your address to me via the contact-me form on the About page? It won’t show up on the website and will go straight to my inbox.
Thanks
Beryl

Hi Jennifer,
Glad you like it 🙂 I’ve set the packs aside for you – you’ve got the very last pack of Kent Blues available. They really are a fabulous mangetout and I’ve found they produce huge amounts. And if you save seed from one of the plants you’ll have them for next year too. Please can you donate via https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/Beryl-Randall? Once that’s through I’ll email for an address to send them to. Thanks so much! Beryl

Brilliant, I have done my donation 😀 I was a complete growing newbie last year when I took on a plot in March so this will be my first seed saving (and hopefully sharing) season. I have been doing lots of reading into seeds and love some of the stories behind different varieties. I have really enjoyed your blog since I came across it. I cannot wait to try these varieties, so thank you 😀

Thank you – and I do really remember what it felt like starting with zero experience! If you’re getting into seed saving and you tweet, I’ll be running another Twitter seed circle this season – open to anyone. It’s a great way to share (and get!) unusual seeds in manageable quantities.

Hi Lisa,
Thanks so much! I’m afraid the one pack of Robinson’s went at the speed of light…Sorry it’s taken a couple of hours to get back to you, there’ve been so many more requests than I was anticipating! All the others are set aside for you. Please could you donate via https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/Beryl-Randall? Once that goes through I’ll email for an address to send them to. Cheers Beryl

Hi Matt,
The last pack of Flat White has just gone, but I have the two toms if that would be ok? If so, please could you donate via https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/Beryl-Randall? And is it ok if I pop them in with your seed circle parcel…Just waiting for James’s and ALan’s parcels to arrive before they are sent out again. Thank you so much! Beryl

Hi Paul,
I had 4 varieties listed – I’ve Flat White (last pack) and Shishigatani left. They are both lovely but very different. FW tastes more of sweet potato and Shishi is nutty. Are either or both of interest? I’ll set them aside for you till I hear back, or till tomorrow evening (19th). Cheers Beryl

Hi Margaret,
I only had one pack of Robinson’s and they went really quickly I’m afraid. I’ve put the other two aside for you. Please could you donate via https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/Beryl-Randall and I’ll be in touch as soon as it goes through gor an address to send them to. Many thanks Beryl

Evening Carol,
I’m really sorry I don’t have everything you asked for left – I can send you all except the Parsley peas which went incredibly quickly! If that’s ok with you, please can you donate via https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/Beryl-Randall and I’ll be in touch to get an address to send them to you when it goes through. Many thanks Beryl

Hi Beryl. You know me as @PaulCoster52 via twitter and SeedCircle16, but I am using a different WordPress account to reply here. My I please reserve the Robinsons Pea and one of the Red Buffalo Horn tomatoes. If available I will complete the payment instructions here, but for posting you could always include them in the SeedCircle16 envelope you already have for me & save yourself a second envelope. Look forward to hearing from you. Paul

Hi Paul,
I’m really sorry, you were just too late for the Robinson’s. I think I might grow the remaining few seeds I have here for this year’s circle since so many people appear to want them! I’ve set aside the Red Buffalo Horn and Dancing with Smurfs seeds for you and thanks, will add to the seed circle parcel. Please could you use https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/Beryl-Randall to donate? Thanks so much, Beryl

Just followed your blog, I already followed you on Twitter. I’d love to try the parsley pea, please. What a novel and lovely way to raise money for a cause; I’ve had reason to ask for help from the Samaritans in the past. THank you @betonyjoy

Hi Joy, Thanks, that’s very kind of you! They are a great organisation The last pack of parsley peas is set aside for you. As soon as your donation pops up on https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/Beryl-Randall I’ll be in touch for an address to send them off to you. Beryl 🙂

Hi Mark,
Thanks! That’s Dancing w Smurfs, Purple Ukraine & Flat White – both the Robinson and the Parsley peas are gone I’m afraid. I might have a go at growing them for this year’s seed circle as they are so popular! If that’s still ok, please can you donate via https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/Beryl-Randall and I’ll be in touch for an address to send them off to you. Beryl

Hi Esme,
It’s taken off rather more than I anticipated! Thank you so much for sharing it. And yes of course, I’ve set them aside for you and as soon as the donation pops up on on https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/Beryl-Randall they’re yours. Shall I stick them in with the seed circle parcel? Beryl 🙂

Hi Sue, I did stick a reply up yesterday with the donation link – but just to confirm I’ve set the seeds aside for you and as soon as your donation pops up on https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/Beryl-Randall I’ll send be in touch for an address to send them off to you. I think I am going to run out of seeds, rather than have some over, so I’ll stick with the maximum 5 per person. Thank you so much, Beryl 🙂

Hi Kayleigh, I’ve put a pack of Flat White seeds aside for you, but I’m sorry the Thelma Sanders seeds ran out last night. I just don’t have any more than it says on the list. 😦 If you donate via https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/Beryl-Randall I’ll be in touch for an address to send the squash seeds off to. Thanks Beryl

Hi Jean, thanks for contacting me. I can’t find you on my list of followers, please can you either click follow or let me know if there’s an issue with it? I think all the Geraumon squashes are spoken for, but I will be adding some different seeds tomorrow morning now as they have gone so quickly! cheers Beryl

Hi Matt,
The oca is red & white rather than a straight red. It looks very pretty & seems to make blockier tubers than the peach ones. I have everything bar the Robinson’s pea which everyone wants and which went at the speed of light in the comments feed! I’ve set the others aside for you – I love the idea of encouraging seed saving on your site. Please could you donate via https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/Beryl-Randall and as soon as it pops through (please be identifiable!) I’ll be in touch for an address to send them to you. Many thanks, Beryl

Hi Anne,
Of course you can. I’ll pop them into your seed circle parcel if that’s ok? AM just waiting for Alan and James’s to arrive and we’re off. Please would you donate via https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/Beryl-Randall? It’s the only way I can keep tabs on this and I had no idea it would take off so quickly! I’ll know better next time! Thanks so much, Beryl x

Hi Beryl. Yes of course, stick them in the seed circle parcel. This is such a good idea, I might try a local version myself next year. My excess seed supply pales to insignificance against yours, but is still far more than I can utilise. Anne

Grand, will do. And thank you, seed sales are so much easier for me than plant sales, which was my other thought. I’ve no spare space for too many excess seedlings! The JustGiving set up does make it really simple too. B x

Hi Beryl
We think your idea of supporting Kingston Samaritans is great and would like to support it. (My late sister-in-law who taught at Kingston Uni committed suicide 10 years ago.) These are the seeds we would like if you still have some left.
Black Cherry toms, Cherokee Trail of Tears, Geraumon Martinique, Oca (any) Thelma Sanders.
Thanks
Clare Winstanley
PS have been following your blog thanks to our mutual friend Maurice Wren

Hi Clare,
I’m very sorry to hear about your sister-in-law. It’s awful to go through. I managed to shift the post over, and you’ve got the last pack of Thelma Sanders! Please could you donate via https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/Beryl-Randall? I will then email you for your address and send the seeds.
I’m glad you like the blog, and do say hi to Maurice from me when you next see him. He’s a wonderful man!
Many thanks
Beryl

Hi Chelle,
Thanks so much. I really didn’t think it would go so quickly – you’ve snagged the last of the oca! The tubers are smallish but the same size I use. They’re ready to chit and plant in pots in March then go out when it’s warm enough and you should then, frosts willing, get a good crop. Please can you donate via https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/Beryl-Randall? Once that’s through I’ll DM for your address and send them speeding off to you. Thank you!! Beryl x

Hi Gemma, I’ve found a very small bag of more Kent Blues, so you’re in luck! All the others are fine too. Please can you donate via https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/Beryl-Randall and I’ll be in touch for your address to send them to. Thank you very much! Beryl

Erk, sorry no. They went in the post yesterday evening. I can bring a pack to Wisley if you want? They don’t need sowing till April…you may need to remind me though! I have plenty – I got nearly a kilo of dried beans from 10 plants last year.

Hi Ros, Yes – you’ve got the last pack of Kent Blues too, unless I can find more tomorrow! I’ll hold them to one side till I see the donation come through on https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/Beryl-Randall and then send them off to you. (I’ll email for your address) Thanks so much! Beryl

Hi Clare – you just pop your wishlists on the comments thread. You won’t see it at once because I need to click ‘approve’ on my end. The peas appear to be going fast though. I may have to see if there are any spares lurking in the boxes!

Hi Beryl, what a lovely way to honour your friend, can’t see any howlers so far so count me in if that’s ok,
May I have
Queensland blue squash,
Blush tomato,
Thelma Sanders squash (again, I forgot to save any seeds from the last lot I had)
Oca.
Many thanks, hope it goes well
P.s my saffron is doing really well now I’ve netted the raised bed to stop my delinquent cats using it as a handy toilet on the patio!!! I thought I’d sent you an email thanking you for them but when checking couldn’t find it in my sent box so apologies if you never got a thank you at the appropriate time🙁

Hi Tina,
First in! Yes of course you can, they’re set aside for you and thank you for the extra £££s, that’s lovely. Please can you make sure that you donate on my JustGiving page rather than on a general one? https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/Beryl-Randall
That’ll help me keep track.

As soon as I see the donation on the site I’ll post off the seeds.
Thanks so much!
Beryl